Australia All Over

Macca on Radio ABC

Ian McNamara graduated from Sydney University with an economics degree, but left the city to become a jackeroo. His career then took a major turn when he joined Col Joye & The Joye Boys as a singer/guitarist. Ian still manages to perform occasionally and is also a songwriter and producer for Radio ABC. Ian first joined the ABC in 1974, in the Industrial Relations department but moved to the Rural Department two years later as a Rural Reporter. He spent time as in television, working on A Big Country and Countrywide, before returning to Rural Radio in 1980 as a reporter and eventually as host and presenter of Australia All Over. Macca loves speaking with Australians from all walks of life and relishes the chance to travel the country with Australia All Over. The program is an eclectic mix of music, poetry, anecdotes, book readings and talkback; all delivered in Macca's trademark, off-the-cuff style. Every Sunday morning, some 2 million listeners from every corner of Australia and around the globe tune in for their weekly dose of Australia.

Macca with Penny Davies & Roger on Radio ABC

IN MACCA'S OWN WORDS

"Being a reporter is a wonderful way to get job satisfaction. You talk to different people every day and get to travel all over Australia which ultimately became my life. I suppose the travelling started much earlier when I was a musician. You often had to travel to get work, a bit like a shearer or a contract harvester. I joined Col Joye's backing band, The Joy Boys, in the early 70s and spent a year travelling with them, which looking back was a great experience. Colin and his brothers have remained firm friends since then."

"As I said earlier it's a great job being a reporter which is really what I am - 'reporting' what's going on around the place. What has also been invaluable is a knowledge and love of music. I grew up listening to music in our house not because my father was a musician (which he was) but because he was obsessed with sound and we had a huge tereo/hifi for which he bought a new album each week. So I heard everything and became hooked on songs and melody and I've never stopped."

"My ABC life has involved lots of different things which has kept life interesting and keeps me motivated. My Sunday Morning show has become the focus of my life really, not only because I enjoy revealing some of the characters of Australia but also because I have made so many wonderful friends. My mum used to say after reading my mail for not a few years how wonderful the listeners were. And that's the real privilege. Being taken into the confidence of so many wonderful Australians then meeting them at outside broadcasts or a concert. It truly is for me, and I know my producer Lee Kelly, an experience we cherish. Our purpose on air on Sunday morning is to share this with everybody and hopefully spread a little joy, and a little Aussie spirit and humour. I better stop but I hope to meet you sometime at an 'OB' or a concert or whatever. Talk to you Sunday."